Roll of Honor
Thomas H. McDonald
Incident
Location: Michigan Weapon: Gun; Unknown type Offender: Shot and killed
Game Warden Thomas McDonald was shot and killed by a poacher in a wooded area of Benton County approximately six to eight miles north of Ashland.
He had encountered a man poaching squirrels when he was shot in the back. Despite his wounds, he was able to return fire and fatally shot the man. Their bodies were found approximately 300 yards apart later in the day by another hunter. The subject who shot him had previously been an inmate of the state insane asylum.
Game Warden McDonald had served as a state game warden for only 11 months and was assigned to Benton County.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MS-1EF76082- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Game Warden McDonald served with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.
Thank you for your service to the Jackson community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Game Warden McDonald.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Game Warden Thomas H. McDonald is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In MS, 242 of 349 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.3% of this state's fallen. That is 15.1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, 6 of 11 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 54.5% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Thomas H. McDonald's cause is highlighted.
How Thomas H. McDonald Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas H. McDonald is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Thomas H. McDonald was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
10 officers from Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks are honored on badge.nw.
